If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

FAQs for ShoeBox Compressor

Q: How much will it cost?
A: Currently the target price is 3-400 dollars retail but this could change.

Q: How fast will it fill a tank?
A: It will fill a 68 cubic inch tank in about 4 hours to 4500 psi.

Q: I hear it needs another compressor?
A: Yes, it needs an 85 psi input from a shop compressor for maximum fill rate. If you donít use a shop compressor it will take 6 times longer to fill a tank.

Q: What shop compressor can I use?
A: Almost ANY shop compressor that puts out at least 85 psi at 1 CFM or more will work fine. The mini-compressor takes very little air and a shop compressor will only kick on a few times. Small shop compressors are so cheap it didnít make sense to try and build one into the mini-compressor.

Q: How many CFM does the mini-compressor use when pumping?
A: It takes about 0.04 CFM which is nothing.

Q: Can I use a compressed air tank instead of a shop compressor?
A: Yes you can. Some thing like a portable air tank for filling tires should work but it needs to be big enough to maintain some type of pressure during the 4 hour fill time.

Q: Can I fill a scuba tank?
A: Yes but you have to provide a fill hose and attachment fittings. I estimate it will fill an 80 cubic foot scuba tank to 3000 psi in about 24 hours.

Q: Can I use a low pressure scuba with a regulated output to 85 psi to feed the mini-compressor?
A: Yes but we donít recommend it because a high pressure regulator is more expensive than a small shop compressor that can be bought new for 80 bucks.

Q: How much noise does it make?
A: Not that much but its not completely silent. Its less noisy than your mothers sewing machine.

Q: Does it turn off by itself?
A: Yes but the pressure is preset at the factory. You have to buy either the 4500 or 3000 psi model.

Q: What else do I need to get to make it work?
A: To keep the cost down we only supply a stainless nipple output from the compressor. This is the same nipple you find on your paintball markers tank. You need to get a hose to connect what ever type of tank you have, scuba, paintball, pellet gun, to the compressor.

Q: What size is it?
A: Its about 16Ē wide, 12Ē deep and 6 Ĺ inches tall. The picture on Facebook shows a pencil for scale in front of the compressor.

Q: When will it be available?
A: We are making the pre-production prototypes now and hope to have the first run out within two months.

Q: Is there any water or particle filtration on the mini-compressor?
A: No there is not to keep costs down. You can put a water trap between the shop compressor and the mini-compressor if thatís a concern.

Q: How much electricity will it take?
A: It will cost less than 5 cents an hour to run the compressor.

Q: Can I put say 1000 psi into it to make it fill faster?
A: No not 1000 psi because it will overload the first piston and stall the motor. It will probably handle up to about 100 psi or a bit more which will give you a faster fill.

Q: Will it be sold in Europe?
A: YES, working on the distribution now.

Q: Does it have a degas valve to disconnect the tank?
A: Yes, the knob to degas the line is directly above the output port. You screw it in to release the pressure.

Q: Will it be convertable from 3k to 4.5k?
A: No, there are too many liability issues.

Q: Any safety features built in?
Yes, there is a standard replaceable burst disk built into the compressor. The shut-off system is made to shut down if the spring breaks, if the lubrication gets too low and increases the friction, or if there is an overpressure in the first stage. If your filling a paintball tank, there is a backcheck valve there, and two others in the compressor to prevent 4500 psi from getting back into your fill compressor.

Q: What voltage does it take and can I plug it into a wall?
A: It takes 115vac so yes you can just plug it in the wall.

Q: Can I just top off a tank or do I need to drain it all the way before hooking it up?
A: You don't need to drain it. The compressor will start pumping from what ever pressure your at so you can top off your tank.

Q: Who is behind the design and production?
A: Tom Kaye owner of Airgun Designs is responsible for the development of the compressor. He is getting back into the paintball business after 5 years in retirement.

Ya but for forty bucks you can get a small compressor and fill in about four hours.

Oh I know, I've got a couple shop compressors, but I also have a cabin on Grand Lake in Maine with a generator... It's be a pain to lug a compressor up too, but a Shoebox on it's own would be tits. I really can't wait for the next generation (retail ready) of this badboy comes out...

Now, Tom, you have to start selling cheap (<$100) 68/45 bottles to go with it.

The last word is that there will be a 3k and 4.5k versions NOT a convertible unit. This is because there are built in burst disks for safety that are sized to the max fill. It is also very likely that the 3k version will be geared to run faster since it puts out less heat with less pressure.

I had a question that I haven't seen addressed ... are we supposed to add to this thread, or start a new thread in this forum by the way?

For applications where only 12V DC is available, such as in a vehicle, that requires an inverter to convert to 110 AC: Will the motor be ok with a standard modified sine wave inverter of appropriate wattage, or will it require a more expensive and less common Pure Sine Wave Inverter?

From what I've read it seems like only finicky electronics and certain specialized variable speed motors require a pure sine wave, which doesn't sound like this is, but I thought I'd ask to make sure before I blow anything up.

Does it really need a tensioner. On an air compressor with a drive belt you can just loosen the bolts mounting the motor and slide the motor fore or aft to adjust tension. Plus, a chain should stretch a little at first then more or less stabilize.

Could a person direct fill a pcp air rifle with a 210cc tank? I wonder how long it would take to fill a rifle direct. Would you still need a secondary tank?If it does, could it be of small volume and then direct to rifle?This could be a major revolution in the adult air rifle industry. Can't wait to get my hands on one.

Could a person direct fill a pcp air rifle with a 210cc tank? I wonder how long it would take to fill a rifle direct. Would you still need a secondary tank?If it does, could it be of small volume and then direct to rifle?This could be a major revolution in the adult air rifle industry. Can't wait to get my hands on one.

yes, you can fill direct to the gun, but you'd have to be very careful if using a 4500 psi shoebox on a 3000 psi gun like the marauder... you'd have to shut it off manually when you reach the 3000k fill.

my plan is to instead buy a 4500 psi pigmee from air hog for $275. fill that with the compressor, then have 13 or so fills available for the gun... of course you can get a bigger carbon fiber tank but the pigmee is incredibly portable, fairly cheap, and at 9 cu ft should be fairly quick to fill.

the only downside I see with the pigmee is that you apparently don't know how much air is left in the tank. the built in gauge tells you the gun pressure, not the tank pressure. [edit: apparently most scbas don't have a tank gauge. can get a dead head to show the tank pressure for about $25.]

yes, you can fill direct to the gun, but you'd have to be very careful if using a 4500 psi shoebox on a 3000 psi gun like the marauder... you'd have to shut it off manually when you reach the 3000k fill.

my plan is to instead buy a 4500 psi pigmee from air hog for $275. fill that with the compressor, then have 13 or so fills available for the gun... of course you can get a bigger carbon fiber tank but the pigmee is incredibly portable, fairly cheap, and at 9 cu ft should be fairly quick to fill.

the only downside I see with the pigmee is that you apparently don't know how much air is left in the tank. the built in gauge tells you the gun pressure, not the tank pressure.

With the pigmee bottle that would be 9 fills from 2k to 2.8k psi. That calls for a dance...

Q: What are the O-rings for that came with my compressor? Also, the vent knob, does that require o-rings? I just screwed it in per the instructions, they didn't mention installing o-rings anywhere. I just wanted to clarify.

To be clear, it will fill a tank without a small compressor or large air tank? But it will take 24 hours?

Can't wait.

As I understand the latest info, you CANNOT use the Shoebox alone to fill tanks - you must use a first stage shop compressor. If I read it correctly, the post was that it would not correctly register the pressure and could overfill if a small compressor wasn't used.

Q: What are the O-rings for that came with my compressor? Also, the vent knob, does that require o-rings? I just screwed it in per the instructions, they didn't mention installing o-rings anywhere. I just wanted to clarify.

Thanks!

The orings are spares incase you need them for service. Therer are six total. 2 small urethane for the inside bottom cyclinder, 2 large urethane for inside the top cylinder and 1 small and large viton for each back check. large one top back check small one bottom back check.

No orings on the vent knob they are internal. Use the black button head screw provided as vent screw stop.

Just got my 4500psi Shoebox, got it ready and aired up the first tank (68/4500), it aired up just fine, but when I screwed in the vent knob it did not release the air pressure. Before I start tearing into this thing, is there something you can tell me that I should look at or check first? Thanks for any help!

Just got my 4500psi Shoebox, got it ready and aired up the first tank (68/4500), it aired up just fine, but when I screwed in the vent knob it did not release the air pressure. Before I start tearing into this thing, is there something you can tell me that I should look at or check first? Thanks for any help!

Found it!! It was a small piece of trash in the end of the vent valve orifice. Cleaned it, reassembled and vent tested, works fine.